I Possessed the Villain’s Childhood Friend – Chapter 106

“Haah.”

With a sigh, I quietly gazed at the sky.

Autumn was approaching, and the sky was a clear blue, free of any dust.

“Are you ready?”

At my father’s question, I simply nodded.

In the Training Hall, it was just my father and me standing alone.

After three months of getting used to this situation, I quietly drew Neia and aimed it at my father.

Tomorrow I would return to Arcana, so today was my last training session at home with my father.

“Aike.”

“Yes.”

“You said you were unsure whether you had grown stronger.”

“…That’s correct.”

No matter how many times I trained, the question of whether I could be among those prodigies never left my mind.

With this level of skill, wouldn’t I just get in the way on the battlefield? That worry wouldn’t disappear either.

“So why are you standing here with a sword now? Why strive to become stronger? If you’re unsure, you could just choose not to step forward.”

“Because I want to protect the precious things. I have a responsibility.”

“Then prove it.”

“Prove it, you say?”

“Yes. If you have resolve and responsibility, you must have worked hard. Show me that effort. If that’s impossible, I won’t allow you to fight against Avatarara.”

“…Father?”

It was sudden.

And with words I couldn’t comprehend, I found myself speechless.

“Why are you so surprised? It’s a natural decision. For someone lacking skill to step on the battlefield is akin to suicide. I can’t just sit idly by and watch my son walk into danger.”

“But I…”

“No more words are necessary. If needed, prove it directly with your sword, Aike.”

My father’s sword slowly pointed toward me.

Just that alone made it clear.

“Well, since it’s the last sparring session, I won’t hold back. So you too should come at me with all your might, putting everything on the line, casting all distractions aside, and bring down your opponent.”

The absolute wall of skill that existed between my father and me.

“…I can’t say I’m confident I’ve become stronger, yet I still step onto the battlefield to take responsibility.”

And at my father’s lament, simultaneously—

“That’s truly irresponsible.”

A silver flash came barreling toward me.

★

“Keugh!”

The sensation of all air leaving my lungs swept over me.

I finally understood what my father meant about not holding back.

“Is that truly your limit, Aike!”

The attacks flying from all directions aimed directly at my vitals.

No matter how much I blocked, blocked, and blocked.

The assaults never ceased.

Doubled my speed and weight compared to mine.

As if all my previous training had been mere child’s play, even just extending my sword felt onerous.

My left leg, right shoulder, chest, both arms, left side—

Pain swallowed me whole without end.

“Uaaaaaa!!!”

Even screaming in an effort to endure it was useless.

What was needed to break down walls wasn’t determination but overwhelming strength.

“With those skills, survival on the battlefield is impossible! Was three months just that amount of time for you?”

“Ugh!”

What kind of answer did my father wish to hear?

Would it be easier if I just collapsed right now?

I didn’t know.

Thoughts were hazy, like fog clouding my mind.

Why was I even here, doing this?

“Accept it, Aike. You have no talent.”

… I know.

“You are not a genius.”

I know that too.

“And being a knight means one must have talent.”

That’s why I’m making this effort to overcome that wall of talent.

“But Aike, why do you try to move forward without even realizing that?”

… When did I finally collapse?

My father slowly approached, stepping heavily.

I should get up, but I didn’t want to.

The feeling of having my efforts directly denied by my father was anything but refreshing.

“Aike, I will say it again. You have no talent.”

Damn.

“I know, I do.”

What made me stand up again?

I know better than anyone that I couldn’t refute that statement.

“And a knight must have talent.”

“I know that.”

“Truly?”

For some reason, I couldn’t reply.

I didn’t know why.

I just had a gut feeling that I shouldn’t recklessly answer that question.

“Do you genuinely understand what it means to dream of being a knight when you have no talent? Are you truly speaking sincerely?”

My father’s steps stopped.

As if allowing me time to think and answer.

“….”

What on earth did my father want to say?

Let’s think.

Why is he suddenly opposing me fighting Avatarara?

Is it simply because he thinks my skills are insufficient?

Is it because he has no confidence that I would return alive if I fought Avatarara?

If that’s the case, then why speak up today, on the last day?

If he genuinely felt that way, he could have told me yesterday.

“…Genius, talent.”

I can see the path ahead.

So bright that it seemed impossible for me to walk it all the way.

Knowing that, why do I reach out to that path?

“The difference between talent and effort.”

A commoner with no talent.

A path that only geniuses can walk.

“Ah.”

My brain, which had been clouded, began to clear, and outlines started to take shape.

“Ah…!”

Yes.

I lack talent.

And being a knight is the embodiment of talent.

It was a path I couldn’t walk to begin with.

So why did I think that path was the only answer and reached out for it?

What I truly need to look upon is—

“Trusting in the effort I have built thus far.”

“That’s right.”

With that statement, my father’s sword once again came crashing down on me.

“There’s no need to wear clothes that don’t fit. Trust the effort you have accumulated. Believe in the path you have walked, not the path that geniuses pave.”

Yes.

No matter how radiant that path may seem, it cannot be touched by my hands.

No matter how much I reach out, it will never be the same.

So let’s accept it.

The path I have walked, and the path I must walk is tough and rugged, but—

It is undoubtedly a proper path, too.

It’s foolish to turn my gaze away from that effort and covet talent that I’ll never touch.

★

“Keugh!”

It goes without saying, but even if I acknowledge that, I cannot surpass my father.

However, changing the way I confront him was possible.

“Huh!”

The moment my father’s sword brushed against my right shoulder, I thrust my sword forward and charged.

Grimacing at the tearing pain, I was convinced that it was the best decision I could make.

But my father easily stepped back, disrupting my balance.

As my body soared through the air.

“Ugh.”

Ultimately, I dropped Neia and crashed to the ground.

“Is this the end, Aike?”

My father asked.

Unfortunately, at this point, getting up was truly arduous.

My heart longed to stay there on the floor without answering.

But I had to say this.

“Yes. That is my answer.”

“…That’ll do.”

I flipped over and gazed at the sky.

Suddenly, I saw my father’s face.

On his expressionless face, there was, without a doubt, a faint but clear wound.

“Father.”

I had many things I wanted to say.

Honestly, I wanted to ask if he couldn’t have just explained everything simply from the start.

But I felt it wasn’t necessary to voice it.

This was certainly the answer.

“I will be back.”

“…I see.”

A drop of crimson blood flowed down from my father’s cheek.

He silently turned away without wiping it away.

” Aike!”

Just before I got up into the carriage.

My mother, who had come to see me off, called out.

“Yes, Mother.”

“Hang in there. And be sure to come back without getting hurt. Got it?”

Her smile was gentle and warm.

“I’ll be cheering for you.”

Looking into my mother’s face made me feel like tears would spill over.

“…I’ll be back.”

“Yes, be safe!”

I turned away, reinforcing my resolution as I bid my mother farewell.

I promised I would return to this place.

★

“Aike said he would be back.”

“He said the same to me.”

Four years had passed since that day.

Whenever Aike went somewhere, he never once said he would be back.

He always merely left saying he would go.

Nia felt a sense of loss over that fact.

She even wondered if she had done something wrong.

Small things like that made Aike feel distant.

But now she realized.

Ados, Nia, and Lukan all understood that Aike was not truly ‘Aike’ anymore.

They even tried to interact with him as usual, as per Aike’s request.

But to Aike, the members of the Akses House were a brand-new ‘family’ that had come into being all of a sudden.

To say they didn’t feel distant was indeed strange.

“When Aike returns, we should talk more.”

However, this time Aike said he would be back.

That single phrase.

The fact that Aike now considered this place his home made Nia feel immensely happy.

“I truly hope he returns safely and unscathed.”

She sincerely prayed for Aike’s well-being.